This question focuses on connection behavior when pool members transition from down to up, which is a classic data plane consideration in BIG-IP environments.

What problem is being solved?

When a pool member:

Recovers from a failure

Is enabled after maintenance

Transitions from inactive to active

…it can suddenly receive a large burst of new connections, especially when using load-balancing methods such as Least Connections. This sudden surge can overload the server.

Why Slow Ramp Time is the correct solution:

Slow Ramp Time is a pool-level setting that:

Gradually increases the number of connections sent to a newly available pool member

Prevents sudden spikes in traffic

Allows the server to warm up (application cache, JVM, DB connections, etc.)

From BIG-IP Administration Data Plane Concepts:

Slow Ramp Time controls the rate at which BIG-IP increases load to a pool member that has just become available

During the ramp period, BIG-IP artificially increases the member’s connection count, making it appear “busier” and therefore less attractive for new connections

This directly satisfies the requirement to avoid overloading pool members when they become active.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:

B. Different Ratio for each member

Ratios control relative distribution under normal operation

They do not prevent a sudden surge when a member becomes active

C. Action On Service Down to Reselect

Controls persistence behavior when a member goes down

Has no impact on connection ramp-up when a member comes back online

D. Same Priority Group to each member

Affects failover logic between priority groups

Does not control connection rate or ramp-up behavior

Key Data Plane Concept Reinforced:

To protect backend servers during recovery events, BIG-IP provides Slow Ramp Time, ensuring graceful reintroduction of traffic and preventing connection storms that can occur during high-load scenarios.

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